The New York Islanders won their second straight and moved back into the top wildcard position after a 4-1 win over the Sharks of San Jose at the SAP Center on Saturday evening. 1-0 deficit after a Kevin Labanc goal gave San Jose the lead, JG Pageau scored while short-handed at 16:08 to tie the game. Kyle Palmieri scored for the second straight game to give the Isles a 2-1 lead at 2:18 of the second, and Ryan Pulock extended the lead to 5:24 with a powerplay goal. Zach Parise deflected a shot for his 18th of the season in the third period and Ilya Sorokin made 29 saves for the Islanders (36-27-8) in the win. Kaapo Kahkonen made 29 saves for the Sharks (19-37-14), who have lost six straight games (0-4-2).
As in the previous game in Anaheim, the Islanders fell 1-0 early on but leveled the game with less than four minutes remaining in the first half JG Pageaus impressive Outnumbered goal while shielding the puck from the All-Star defender Eric Karlsoncreated an angle and cut through across the crease and punch Kaapo Kahkonen for the game-changing goal.
“One could argue that for a long time he was perhaps the best player on the ice,” said head coach Lane Lambert. “He doesn’t need to be hard on himself after this one because he played really well.”
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scores a goal from a man down to make it 1-1 against the San Jose Sharks #SJSvsNYI #SJHaie #islands pic.twitter.com/l4gcyLM6AD
— nopClips (@nopClips) March 19, 2023
defender Sebastian Aho, who started the year as a seventh defender and had become a reliable blueliner with bottom pair, left the game at 5:20 of the first period and didn’t return after a hit from above Kevin Labanc. head coach Lane Lambert said he would be re-evaluated on Sunday. Parker Two Spoon is the seventh defender with the team.
Sebastian Aho hasn’t played since that goal in the 1st period #islands pic.twitter.com/PrvgkDRnV2
— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) March 19, 2023
Per Eric Honick In the thin, Pierre Engvall extended his points streak to four games. Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored his 3rd shorthanded goal of the season and sixth goal as an islander; It was his 19th shorthanded goal of his career, tied for 5th among active NHLers. Casey Cizikas now has six points in the last nine games (1-5-6).
Before the game, Butch Goering told us the story and story behind its unique look.
.@91Butsch informs @Shannon_Hogan the story behind his iconic bucket #islands pic.twitter.com/4Vy4sUjhoY
— Islands on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) March 19, 2023
The Islanders return home to the UBS Arena on Tuesday night to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Source : eyesonisles.com